BY MARK KRAM
When the Philadelphia Wings face off against the New York Saints tomorrow night at the Spectrum (8 p.m.), it might not prove the easy victory that it appears to be on paper.
Though the Saints are 0-5 and at the bottom of the six-team Major Indoor Lacrosse League standings, coach Tony Resch has warned his league-leading Wings (4-1) not to take them lightly.
“Getting up for a 4-0 team, like we did last week against Boston, is easy,” Resch said. “But what separates the top teams from the others is the ability to get up for the 0-5 teams. We have to be prepared.”
The Wings already have beaten the Saints once this season. In their season opener at Nassau Coliseum, the Wings opened up a 6-1 lead, then held off a Saints’ comeback for a 14-13 victory.
“New York has a young, exceptionally athletic team,” Resch said. “They are still going through some growing pains at this point.”
The Wings have improved since the season opener. Not sure how the loss of top goal scorer Paul Gait would affect his team, Resch has found a “strong nucleus” in a core of veterans that includes Chris Flynn, Scott Gabrielson, Brian Volker and Gary Martin. He expects that group to set the tone tomorrow.
“Our veterans know there are no easy wins in this league,” Resch said. ”We cannot assume we have a victory under belt.”
The Wings have a 12-game winning streak at home, dating back to their loss to the Buffalo Bandits in the MILL championship game on April 12, 1992.
(Philadelphia Daily News, February 16, 19950